Opinion | Fundraising: Scotiabank joins fight against eating disorders

The new Youth Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program area at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) was unveiled recently and dedicated to Scotiabank in recognition of their generous £250,000 pledge to the PRHC Foundation that will fund the treatment area.

“Even before the pandemic, referrals for PRHC’s outpatient program were on the rise. The impact of that pre-existing surge combined with pandemic-exacerbated mental health challenges is now being felt across the health system,” said Lesley Heighway, president and CEO at PRHC Foundation.

“PRHC’s doctors, nurses and staff want to give their patients and participants the best care possible, but we needed to invest in the safe, functional, and healing spaces that support that lifesaving and life-changing care. On behalf of everyone at PRHC and the many youth who rely on the health centre for eating disorders treatment, thank you to Scotiabank for sharing that vision and helping to ensure young people will receive the specialized, compassionate care they need and deserve.”

The program, designed for youth 12 to 25, provides lifesaving care to normalize eating and restore weight.

It was launched in December to help fill the treatment gap between those who can be successfully treated in an outpatient setting, and those who need more supervised, acute treatment and support to avoid admission to hospital or a long-term residential program.

“Eating disorders are known to thrive in isolation, something young people have had an abundance of during the pandemic,” said Jennifer Cox, director of mental health and addictions Services, PRHC. “When you combine changes in routine, the anxiety many of us are feeling about the future, and increased media attention on weight and our bodies, the result is a perfect storm for increasing susceptibility in developing life-threatening eating disorders.”

The new treatment space includes a kitchen and dining area that feel more like a home than a facility, helping to address anxiety and stress around the preparation and consumption of meals and snacks. Participants attend five days a week, eight hours a day, for 12 weeks, receiving group and one-on-one psychological and nutritional counselling while attending school in a supported classroom.

Scotiabank has a long history of investing in communities where they operate and is pleased to support such an important area of care here in Peterborough, says Chris Skinner, district vice president, Ontario Central East at Scotiabank.

“Supporting the Youth Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program at PRHC is a vital opportunity to contribute to the mental and physical health of young people in this area now, so that they may have a better chance at a healthy future,” said Skinner.

Empty bowls

The 19th annual YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser raised over £33,000

in support of YWCA Nourish Food Programs.

The event held at The Venue Feb.

25, saw ticket holders receiving a handcrafted ceramic or wooden bowl and a restaurant coupon card, featuring discounts from 12 participating local restaurants.

“Our hearts are so full,” said YWCA executive director Kim Dolan. “When I pause to think about all the people and all the time that goes into making this event possible year after year, I’m overwhelmed by the good in our community.

Thank you to everyone who carved, created, sponsored, donated, attended, or lent a hand in order to help folks experiencing food insecurity.

Your support of Nourish means so much to the hundreds of people in our community who access our healthy food workshops, advocacy training, community gardens, and food boxes every month.”

Consider supporting the restaurants that participated in this year’s fundraiser, including Amandala’s, Baked 4U, Black Honey, Central Smith, Fresh Dreams, Naked Chocolate, Pastry Peddler, Sam’s Place, That’s a Wrap, and The Cheesy Fromage.

To learn more about the YWCA Nourish Food Programs visit https://nourishproject.ca/